Corset-spring clasp



(ModeL) J. N. THOMSON. Corset Spring Clasp. N0. 238,731. Patented March 8,1881.

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UNrrE STATES PATENT OFFICJE.

JOHN N. THOMSON, OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS.

CORSET-SPRING CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,731, dated March 8, 1881.

Application filed October 9,1880. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN N. THOMSON, of North Attleborough, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gorset-Sprin g In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a per spective view of a corset having my improved clasp applied thereto; Figs. 2 and 3, plan views of the clasps enlarged; Fig. 4., a plan view of a clasp adapted for use on the corset at the hips; and Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, detail views of various small parts, fully describedghereinafter.

To enable others skilled in the art to make my improved corset-clasp, 1 will proceed to describe fully the construction of the same.

A, Figs. 1 and 2, represents one part of a corset steel or clasp, consisting of a suitable metallic strip provided upon its edge with perforations, by means of which it may be sewed to the corset, if desired.

a represents a spring, of peculiar form, consisting of a suitable length of steel wire bent in such manner as to form an eye portion, a, in the center of the same, shoulders a near the eye-portion, loops a at the rear edge of the steel, and a waving spring portion, a, extending from the loops to the straight portion a a, Figs. 2 and 5, represents a strip or plate having ears adapted to project through proper openings in the steel, by means of which the straight ends a of the spring are rigidly secured in place.

a", Figs. 2 and 7 represents a bridge-piece having ears adapted to project through proper openings in the steel, which is provided with the central portion, a Fig. 7, having proper openings for receiving the parts of the spring below it, and with the portions a", the ends of which bear against the shoulder a of the spring, as shown in Fig. 2. The portions a? beingin contact with the shoulders a thesprin g is prevented from moving inward from its normal position. By means of the loops a and the central portion of the bridge the spring is prevented from moving beyond the proper distance in an outward direction. The bridge-piece a also serves to guide the spring properly in its movement. A series of these springs is located upon the steel, the straight portion of adjacent ends of the springs being held by the same clamping-plate a. The ends of these straight portions overlap each other and are united against longitudinal movement by means of proper projections and recesses, as shown in Fig. 6. Although the ends are thus united, each spring is practically independent of all the others in its action.

B, Figs. 1 and 3, represents the other part of a corset-steel, constructed like the steel A, before described.

1) represents a spring constructed like the spring a, with the exception that the central portion of the wire is formed into a hook adapted to engage with. the eye portion of the other.

b, Figs. 3, 8, and 9, represents a bridge piece having arms b adapted to engage with the loops of the spring for the purpose of preventing it from moving beyond the proper distance in a forward direction, and a U-shaped piece, b adapted to prevent the spring from moving beyond its normal position in a rearward direction. I

O and D, Figs. 1 and 4, represent short steels adapted for use on the corset at the hips.

0 represents a plate provided at its end with a vertical stud having a cross-bar, as shown. These plates are united to the upper ends of the short studs on the lower side of the same by passing the cross-bars of the plate through proper slots in the steels and turning the parts so that the cross-bars lie across the slots, as shown. By means of the plate the moving ends of the steels are prevented from wearing the corset.

The clasps are used, of course, in the ordinary manner.

By means of the springs the corset is adapted to accommodate itself properly to the movements of the chest in the act of breathing and otherwise to the expansion and contraction of the body of the wearer.

Some of the advantages of the described 5 construction are as follows: By means of the peculiar waving or corrugated form of spring great strength is obtained with elasticity of movement; but I do not wish to limit myself to the precise form of spring shown and de 10 scribed. The clasp as a whole is quite simple in construction, and can be made at a moderate cost.

If desired, only one of the above-described corset-steels may be used, the same being ad- 1 5 justed to engage either with hooks or eyes attached at proper points on the opposite edge of the corset.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let- 2o ters Patent, is-

JOHN N. THOMSON.

Witnesses:

D. G. STUART,

JNo. J HARROWER. 

